PICC organizes and co-sponsors many events including lobby days, public actions, educational trainings, citizenship days and member meetings. Below are upcoming and recent PICC and PICC member organization events.

Join activists from around the state who are working to stop all anti-immigrant legislation in PA and to pass pro-immigrant policies at the municipal and state levels. Every call we will have an in-depth presentation on a different topic or campaign. Please register to receive the information to join the calls. Register Today!

What is a Community Navigator? Community Navigators are community members who receive specialized training to provide quality immigration services for their communities in an empowering and effective way. The Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition (PICC) will be hosting a series of trainings in Lancaster from November 7th to November 17th, 2018 to give community leaders the skills and knowledge to assist their peers in accessing resources and understanding their right. Interpretation and childcare are available upon request for all sessions.

We use zoom for our video calls. We suggest that you use your computer so you can see and be seen by participants. The goal is to keep people connected throughout the state. If you don’t have a computer or a video camera you can use your phone and join like a regular call

Feel free to e-mail Maria Sotomayor at mariasotomayor@paimmigrant.org or 215-832-3482.

Learn about the current policies around language access and language assistance at PennDOT in Western Pennsylvania. This is an open community infosession. Information will be presented by the Community Justice Project (CJP).

This clinic will offer participants the opportunity to be screened for eligibility for various forms of immigration relief, and to consult with an immigration attorney at no charge. Some participants may additionally be eligible for pro-bono or low-bono representation. Those who do not qualify for financial support will be provided with referrals to trustworthy private immigration attorneys.

Registration for this free program is required. Child-care will be provided and rides from the Doylestown area are available upon request. Please RSVP here.

This event is one of a series presented in Bucks County by Immigrant Rights Action and Welcoming the Stranger in conjunction with legal services provider HIAS-PA. The full schedule is available here.

Since 1998, more than 16,000 of Southeast Asian American community members from Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, have been issued orders of deportation, but more than 14,000 are living in the country in a state of limbo, uncertain of when ICE will once again try to detain them. This aggression on our community follows the Trump Administration sanctions on Cambodia and Laos, the biggest Cambodian and Vietnamese detention round up in 2017, and the biggest deportation of Cambodian immigrants in 2018.

In response, VietLead is joining organizations across the country in a National Week of Action Against SEA Deportation to build power in our communities and denounce the unjust mandatory detention and deportations terrorizing families

What is a Community Navigator? Community Navigators are community members who receive specialized training to provide quality immigration services for their communities in an empowering and effective way. The Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition (PICC) will be hosting a series of trainings in Lancaster from November 7th to November 17th, 2018 to give community leaders the skills and knowledge to assist their peers in accessing resources and understanding their right. Interpretation and childcare are available upon request for all sessions.

We use zoom for our video calls. We suggest that you use your computer so you can see and be seen by participants. The goal is to keep people connected throughout the state. If you don’t have a computer or a video camera you can use your phone and join like a regular call.

Feel free to e-mail Maria Sotomayor at mariasotomayor@paimmigrant.org or 215-832-3482.

Aquinas Center Immigration Legal Services will be hosting a KYR event on December 15th. We will be working with CSS Immigration Legal Services and the Mexican Consulate as a part of our Immigration Outreach Series. CSS Immigration Legal Services will also be conducting free legal screenings to Mexican citizens after the evening’s program.

Monthly Youth calls are every 2nd Wednesday of the month. This call is for youth ages 14-25 in PA interested in learning how to engage with immigrant rights work. We will cover different topics each week. Topics are selected by our youth membership.

We use zoom for our video calls. We suggest that you use your computer so you can see and be seen by participants. The goal is to keep people connected throughout the state. If you don’t have a computer or a video camera you can use your phone and join like a regular call.

Feel free to e-mail Maria Sotomayor at mariasotomayor@paimmigrant.org or 215-832-3482.

Learn about the ITIN number, how the tax reform will affect ITIN holders, and learn your rights if confronted by ICE. After the workshops, get screened for possible immigration relief by immigration attorneys, accredited representatives, and trained volunteers.

Join activists from around the state who are working to stop all anti-immigrant legislation in PA and to pass pro-immigrant policies at the municipal and state levels. Every call we will have an in-depth presentation on a different topic or campaign. Please register to receive the information to join the calls. Register Today!

Join allies across Allegheny County in the national drive to submit 100,000 comments before the Dec. 10 deadline to oppose the Trump public charge rule. Every comment is essential.

The public comment period on Trump’s public charge rule closes December 10. We have until then to prevent the Trump Administration from forcing immigrant families into poverty. Join us at a special event on Monday, Dec. 3 to learn more about the issue and submit your comments – every comment is essential. You can also meet some of the local organizations that are working to help your immigrant neighbors. Share on Facebook!

Learn about the ITIN number, how the tax reform will affect ITIN holders, and learn your rights if confronted by ICE. After the workshop, get screened for possible immigration relief by immigration attorneys.

This call is for youth ages 14-25 in PA interested in learning how to engage with immigrant rights work in PA.

Monthly Youth calls are every 2nd Wednesday of the month. This call is for youth ages 14-25 in PA interested in learning how to engage with immigrant rights work. We will cover different topics each week. Topics are selected by our youth membership.

We use zoom for our video calls. We suggest that you use your computer so you can see and be seen by participants. The goal is to keep people connected throughout the state. If you don’t have a computer or a video camera you can use your phone and join like a regular call.

Feel free to e-mail Maria Sotomayor at mariasotomayor@paimmigrant.org or 215-832-3482.

Through this workshop, you will be equipped with an understanding of your basic rights, or the rights of someone you may know who encounters Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Additionally, we will walk you through the necessary steps for your family to be prepared in the event that you or a loved one is detained.

CWS Lancaster is a bipartisan not for profit agency working to equip individuals- regardless of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, status, or membership in a particular social group with the tools necessary for stability and self sufficiency in our community.

What is a Community Navigator? Community Navigators are community members who receive specialized training to provide quality immigration services for their communities in an empowering and effective way. The Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition (PICC) will be hosting a series of trainings in Lancaster from November 7th to November 17th, 2018 to give community leaders the skills and knowledge to assist their peers in accessing resources and understanding their right. Interpretation and childcare are available upon request for all sessions.

Every week, PICC and our volunteers register to vote hundreds of New Americans at their citizenship ceremonies in Philadelphia. Before every election, we the people we register to make sure they have the information they need to vote for the first time! Help us mobilize New Americans to the polls this year by volunteering at one or more of our GOTV phone banks.

The phone banks will take place from 5:30-8:30 PM at our office on 2100 Arch St, Philadelphia on the following dates:

Tuesday, October 30th

Thursday, November 1st

Friday, November 2nd

Monday, November 5th

Anyone interested can sign up directly for one or all dates using our volunteer sign up here. We will have food available. No prior phone bank experienced required as we will be training volunteers at the beginning of each shift. Volunteers should bring a laptop if they have one.

Join activists from around the state who are working to stop all anti-immigrant legislation in PA and to pass pro-immigrant policies at the municipal and state levels. Every call we will have an in-depth presentation on a different topic or campaign. Please register to receive the information to join the calls. Register Today!

Every week, PICC and our volunteers register to vote hundreds of New Americans at their citizenship ceremonies in Philadelphia. Before every election, we the people we register to make sure they have the information they need to vote for the first time! Help us mobilize New Americans to the polls this year by volunteering at one or more of our GOTV phone banks.

The phone banks will take place from 5:30-8:30 PM at our office on 2100 Arch St, Philadelphia on the following dates:

Tuesday, October 30th

Thursday, November 1st

Friday, November 2nd

Monday, November 5th

Anyone interested can sign up directly for one or all dates using our volunteer sign up here. We will have food available. No prior phone bank experienced required as we will be training volunteers at the beginning of each shift. Volunteers should bring a laptop if they have one.

The Bhutanese Community Association of Pittsburgh cordially invites all of their neighbors from throughout the greater community to join together in solidarity against hate as we honor the victims of the Tree of Life tragedy. We will gather united in our support of the Jewish community with the knowledge that together, we are stronger than hate.

Every week, PICC and our volunteers register to vote hundreds of New Americans at their citizenship ceremonies in Philadelphia. Before every election, we the people we register to make sure they have the information they need to vote for the first time! Help us mobilize New Americans to the polls this year by volunteering at one or more of our GOTV phone banks.

The phone banks will take place from 5:30-8:30 PM at our office on 2100 Arch St, Philadelphia on the following dates:

Tuesday, October 30th

Thursday, November 1st

Friday, November 2nd

Monday, November 5th

Anyone interested can sign up directly for one or all dates using our volunteer sign up here. We will have food available. No prior phone bank experienced required as we will be training volunteers at the beginning of each shift. Volunteers should bring a laptop if they have one.

Every week, PICC and our volunteers register to vote hundreds of New Americans at their citizenship ceremonies in Philadelphia. Before every election, we the people we register to make sure they have the information they need to vote for the first time! Help us mobilize New Americans to the polls this year by volunteering at one or more of our GOTV phone banks.

The phone banks will take place from 5:30-8:30 PM at our office on 2100 Arch St, Philadelphia on the following dates:

Tuesday, October 30th

Thursday, November 1st

Friday, November 2nd

Monday, November 5th

Anyone interested can sign up directly for one or all dates using our volunteer sign up here. We will have food available. No prior phone bank experienced required as we will be training volunteers at the beginning of each shift. Volunteers should bring a laptop if they have one.

Every week, PICC and our volunteers register to vote hundreds of New Americans at their citizenship ceremonies in Philadelphia. Before every election, we the people we register to make sure they have the information they need to vote for the first time! Help us mobilize New Americans to the polls this year by volunteering at one or more of our GOTV phone banks.

The phone banks will take place from 5:30-8:30 PM at ACLAMO Family Centers in Norristown.

Anyone interested can sign up directly for one or all dates using our volunteer sign up here. We will have food available. No prior phone bank experienced required as we will be training volunteers at the beginning of each shift. Volunteers should bring a laptop if they have one.

As part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen the capacity of immigrant leaders to advocate for the needs of their communities, the Pennsylvania Immigration & Citizenship Coalition (PICC) will be holding a U.S. Civics and Advocacy Training in Pittsburg on Saturday, October 27thfrom 9:30-1:00 PM. Participants will learn about:

The structure of the different levels of government in the United States

The process for passing policies, local ordinances and legislation in Pennsylvania

Conducting an effective advocacy meeting with their elected representatives

Lunch will be provided. Language interpretation and childcare available upon request. Registration is required. Register now!

Contact Carlos Adolfo Gonzalez, Statewide Capacity Building Coordinator, at carlosgonzalez@paimmigrant.org if you have any questions.

Governor Tom Wolf and the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services have the power to issue an Emergency Removal Order on the Berks County Detention Center, an action that would ensure the facility can no longer be used as a prison. It is not only their moral obligation to keep families out of jail but their legal responsibility. FAMILY DETENTION IS ILLEGAL.

On October 10, 2018 the Department of Homeland Security published the offical notice of its proposed change to the public charge rule. Publication of the rule has opened up a 60 day comment period, ending on December 10, 2018.

It is important that all individuals and agencies opposed to this rule submit comments to ensure this harmful rule change does not go into effect. This webinar will cover how to gather stories and use the Protecting Immigrant Families tool to submit comments. On this webinar, Maripat Pileggi from Community Legal Services of Philadelphia will provide a brief overview of content in the proposed rule and provide guidance on how individuals and agencies can submit comments.

Register Today!Login information for the webinar will be emailed to you upon completion of the registration form.

Pennsylvania is one of two states in the nation that hosts a prison for immigrant children, known as the Berks County Detention Center, the others being Texas. Families have reported verbal abuse, workers’ rights abuses, medical neglect and in its first year of operation a mother was raped in front of other families.

October’s vigil will be led by Bishop Peggy Johnson & Eastern PA Conference United Methodist Rapid Response Team. Please join us as we continue to lift our voices for the individuals who continue to be detained in the Berks County Detention Center.

This information session will discuss the proposed change to the public charge rule that may affect immigrants and their families who receive or plan to receive public benefits. Co-presented by Maripat Pileggi, Public Benefits Unit Staff Attorney at Community Legal Services.

Learn how legal and community pressure strategies can elevate a removal case into a deportation defense campaign, including best practices and ethical considerations for collaborating with community partners. All lawyers and community members are invited to participate. For more information, contact Carlos Adolfo Gonzalez, Statewide Capacity Building Coordinator, at carlosgonzalez@paimmigrant.org.

Presented by David Bennion, Executive Director of the Free Migration Project.

Join activists from around the state who are working to stop all anti-immigrant legislation in PA and to pass pro-immigrant policies at the municipal and state levels. Every call we will have an in-depth presentation on a different topic or campaign. Please register to receive the information to join the calls. Register Today!

Presenter: Anne Martin Montgomery, Adoptee Rights Campaign

Presentation: As many as64,000 children adopted by US citizens between 1948 and 2016 may not have US citizenship. For decades, the US government allowed American parents to bring children into the country on a variety of visas, some of which do not guarantee access to citizenship. The Adoptee Rights Campaign (ARC) is a national organization led by adoptees without citizenship. ARC works to promote a legislative solution and provide assistance to the impacted population. We will discuss who is covered and who is excluded under the current law and how you can help.

Join Welcoming Pittsburgh for an evening of activities for Pittsburgh residents who are interested in becoming U. S. citizens. The night will include a civic game show hosted by Bhutanese Community Association of Pittsburgh, legal providers to answer naturalization questions and provide free citizenship eligibility screening and application preparation assistance for qualifying low-income household applicants, and vendors across the city that offer free services to the public!

On September 22, the Trump administration released the text of the proposed public charge rule change and announced it would soon be published for comment. If the rule is ­finalized in its proposed form, this would mark a significant and harmful departure from current policy.

PICC and Community Legal Services of Philadelphia are partnering to host a webinar to explain what is included in this proposal and what impacts the rule would like have on immigrant communities in PA if enacted. On the webinar, Maripat Pileggi from CLS will provide a deeper overview of content in the proposed rule, discuss updated messaging on this issue, and explain what you can do to take action now. Provided the rule is in fact published this week, we will also review the comment process.

Pennsylvania is one of two states in the nation that hosts a prison for immigrant children, known as the Berks County Detention Center, the others being Texas. Families have reported verbal abuse, workers’ rights abuses, medical neglect and in its first year of operation a mother was raped in front of other families.

September’s monthly vigil will be led by “Artists Against Family Detention.” Please join us as we continue to lift our voices for the individuals who continue to be detained in the Berks County Detention Center.

Parking is available at the buildings across the road and down the hill from the center. More info on Facebook.

The exhibit, titled “Shitholes,” aims to promote emerging and unknown contemporary artists not often showcased in typical galleries while challenging the current negative narratives that surround many nations across the globe.

Live musical and artistic performances are from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The exhibit will give the audience the chance to get a better glimpse of what these artists and their countries of origin are really all about, and the hope is that a diverse mix of people will attend.

Entry is free and open to the public; however, Le Chapeau Project will be accepting donations in hopes to help provide support to the Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition (PICC).

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has drafted changes to the “public charge” rules that will be harmful to many immigrant families and communities. This could have an impact on citizenship approval in the future. Come join us for a community orientation event to learn more about these changes and what actions we can take in opposition of the proposed rules. This event is a collaboration between Centro de Apoyo Comunitario, Community Legal Services and PICC.

CASA will be hosting a citizenship clinic Thursday, September 20th, 2018, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The event will take place at the CASA York Welcome Center 225 E Princess St, York, PA 17403. For a full list of the documents that should be brought to the clinic and information about fees, please call: 717.219.7974. RSVP on Facebook.

Learn about the ITIN number, how the tax reform will affect ITIN holders, and learn your rights if confronted by ICE. After workshops, get screened for possible immigration relief by immigration attorneys, accredited representatives, and trained volunteers.

The capacity to educate, organize and engage voters in our work for immigrant justice is indispensable to our ability to win concrete policy changes at all levels of government. PICC member organizations recognize the value of civic engagement and desire to build their capacity to engage citizens in a way that continues to center the leadership of immigrants and refugees. In response, PICC is partnering with FIRM to host a daylong training for our partners to learn how immigrant rights organizations can utilize traditional voter engagement tools to advance issue-based campaigns. Participants will be trained on:

The basics of a civic engagement field plan and will be coached on how to create one

Volunteer recruitment and management

Effective strategies for initial and sustained contact with voters through canvassing, phone banking, and other means.

Navigators will learn about the requirements for U.S. citizenship and how to complete a citizenship application under supervision. This training is part of a series of six. Los navegadores aprenderán sobre los requisitos para la ciudadanía y cómo completar una solicitud bajo supervisión.Este taller es para de una serie de seis talleres. Register here.

Join activists from around the state who are working to stop all anti-immigrant legislation in PA and to pass pro-immigrant policies at the municipal and state levels. Every call we will have an in-depth presentation on a different topic or campaign. Please register to receive the information to join the calls. Register Today!

This training will be conducted in English. Language interpretation available upon request.

Navigator Training Module 6: Presentation and Training Skills

Module 6 focuses on learning the basic presentation and training skills that Navigators will need to effectively present information to others in their communities. This training is part of a series of six. Register here.

What is a Community Navigator? Community Navigators are community members who receive specialized training to provide quality immigration services for their communities in an empowering and effective way. The Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition (PICC) will be hosting a series of trainings in Philadelphia from August 29thto September 8th, 2018 to give community leaders the skills and knowledge to assist their peers in accessing resources and understanding their right. Interpretation and childcare are available upon request for all sessions.

This module focuses on understanding what immigrant communities can do to protect themselves and their families from deportation. This training is part of a series of six. Navigators learn how to complete deportation defense plans and packets. Los navegadores aprenden cómo completar planes y paquetes de defensa contra la deportación. Este taller es para de una serie de seis talleres. Register here.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has drafted changes to the “public charge” rules that will be harmful to many immigrant families and communities. Come join us for a community orientation event to learn more about these changes and what actions we can take in opposition of the proposed rules. Guest Speaker: Maripat Pileggi, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia.

The first module provides an overview of U.S. immigration law to help Navigators understand the functioning and shortcomings of the U.S. immigration system. This training is part of a series of six. Register here.

What is a Community Navigator? Community Navigators are community members who receive specialized training to provide quality immigration services for their communities in an empowering and effective way. The Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition (PICC) will be hosting a series of trainings in Philadelphia from August 29thto September 8th, 2018 to give community leaders the skills and knowledge to assist their peers in accessing resources and understanding their right. Interpretation and childcare are available upon request for all sessions.

Governor Wolf has the power to #ShutDownBerks but he refuses to take any action. Enough is Enough. He must end Family Detention in PA NOW! So we’re taking this campaign straight to his door.

Join Pennsylvanians from across the state on August 20th as we mobilize and rally in the Capitol rotunda. Speak truth to power directly to the Governor’s office and demand they put an end to immigrant family detention in PA by issuing an Emergency Removal Order on the Berks County Detention Center. Sign up to hop on a bus or offer/share a carpool.

This is a weekend dedicated to bringing together 30 immigrant youth that originate from different walks of life across PA. This is an opportunity for us to share our stories and develop leadership skills, organizing skills, and have a chance to build relationships with other youth who share our similar experience and goals

When: August 17-19, 2018Ages: 14-25Cost: $35.00 per person
All attendees will help with fundraising. PICC will provide and assist with a fundraising plan!

Pennsylvania is one of two states in the nation that hosts a prison for immigrant children, known as the Berks County Detention Center, the others being Texas. Families have reported verbal abuse, workers’ rights abuses, medical neglect and in its first year of operation a mother was raped in front of other families.

August’s monthly vigil will be led by “Family Doctors Against Family Detention.” Please join us as we continue to lift our voices for the individuals who continue to be detained in the Berks County Detention Center.

Join activists from around the state who are working to stop all anti-immigrant legislation in PA and to pass pro-immigrant policies at the municipal and state levels. Every call we will have an in-depth presentation on a different topic or campaign. Please register to receive the information to join the calls. Register Today!

La Puerta Abierta/The Open Door is a Philadelphia based organization that works to ensure access to holistic, culturally and trauma-informed mental health support in the Latinx immigrant community through education, collaboration and the provision of pro bono services. Practitioners from LPA will share lessons learned from their work with the community about common migration and acculturation-related stressors as well as considerations in the current climate of increased immigration enforcement and uncertainty.

Join us via webinar to get prepared for your lobby visit to Governor’s Wolf office. He needs to hear from constituents that 2018 is the year he issues an Emergency Removal Order to ensure no new families are brought to the Berks County Detention Center.

This training will review the history of the center, how to lobby and the research that proves that the state of Pennsylvania can in fact issue an Emergency Removal Order. Learn more about the Campaign.

Governor Tom Wolf and the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services have the power to issue an Emergency Removal Order on the Berks County Detention Center, an action that would ensure the facility can no longer be used as a prison. It is not only their moral obligation to keep families out of jail but their legal responsibility. FAMILY DETENTION IS ILLEGAL.

Call Governor Wolf and demand he take action to protect immigrant families.

Pennsylvania is one of two states in the nation that hosts a prison for immigrant children, known as the Berks County Detention Center, the others being in Texas. July’s vigil will be led by Friends (Quakers) CALN Quarterly Meeting. Please join us as we continue to lift our voices for the individuals who continue to be detained in the Berks County Detention Center. RSVP & more event info on Facebook.

Join us via webinar to get prepared for your lobby visit to Governor’s Wolf office. He needs to hear from constituents that 2018 is the year he issues an Emergency Removal Order to ensure no new families are brought to the Berks County Detention Center.

This training will review the history of the center, how to lobby and the research that proves that the state of Pennsylvania can in fact issue an Emergency Removal Order.

In response to increased immigration enforcement in Pennsylvania, PICC will be hosting a series of trainings on how to implement a coordinated community-based response to create safer communities and stop unjust deportations and detentions.

Participants will learn about the “Community Resistance Zone” model, as implemented by Juntos in Philadelphia, and how to conduct strategic case-based campaigns that highlight injustices in the immigration system. This training will be interactive, allowing participants to practice new skills and plan how to begin a project in their local community. The training will be a full two days. Participants are expected to attend both days.

Skills and topics to be covered include:

How to conduct door-to-door conversations with community members

Recruiting allies to support immigrant-led campaigns

Understanding the immigration system and the detention and deportation process

NOTE: All PA is Ready! grantees participating in the Enforcement Resistance Initiative are required to send at least one staff (or equivalent) and 2-3 community leaders or volunteers to one of the three Enforcement Resistance trainings being offered.

Join activists from around the state who are working to stop all anti-immigrant legislation in PA and to pass pro-immigrant policies at the municipal and state levels. Every call we will have an in-depth presentation on a different topic or campaign. Please register to receive the information to join the calls. Register Today!

Topic: Family Separation & Criminalization of Asylum Seekers at the US Border, David Bennion, Free Migration Project

Learn about;
– The history of the Immigrant Family Detention in PA
– The principles of the Shut Down Berks Coalition (surprise, it’s human rights)
– Why Governor Wolf can and should shut it down
– How you can take action!

Do you know if you qualify for any of these or other immigration programs? Are you an immigrant and a victim of crime or domestic abuse? Attend this immigration legal clinic to learn if you qualify. Information Session about Legal Permanent Residence and Citizenship and other Immigration programs such as U Visa, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), Legal Permanent Residence and Citizenship Information Session to learn how to make a Deportation Defense Plan and Packet.

On June 30, immigrant communities and allies will be gathering in Washington DC and communities across the country. In Pennsylvania, local groups are organizing events in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Doylestown, and more! See below for a list of local events.

Learn about;
– The history of the Immigrant Family Detention in PA
– The principles of the Shut Down Berks Coalition (surprise, it’s human rights)
– Why Governor Wolf can and should shut it down
– How you can take action!

This administration’s policy of separating families at the border is horrific, and an extension of policies in place since 2014. The U.S. has been incarcerating asylum seekers as a “deterrent” since 2014 and holding families in inhumane conditions. Now, this administration has escalated by actively separating children from their parents.

WE CAN HELP STOP THIS! Pennsylvania is home to the only publicly owned immigrant family detention center in the country. Shutting down the Berks Family Detention Center would show that Pennsylvania refuses to support the Trump policy of family separation and family detention.

Join us and tell Gov. Wolf to #EndFamilyDetention in PA and SHUT DOWN BERKS!

This policy of separating families at the border is horrific. It is also an extension of both existing immigration policy and the clear anti-immigrant and anti-refugee agenda of this administration. Since 2014, the U.S. has been incarcerating families seeking asylum as a “deterrent” and holding parents and children in inhumane conditions.

It is time for ICE to stop terrorizing our communities, time to stop separating families, and time to end family detention!

In response to increased immigration enforcement in Pennsylvania, PICC will be hosting a series of trainings on how to implement a coordinated community-based response to create safer communities and stop unjust deportations and detentions.

Participants will learn about the “Community Resistance Zone” model, as implemented by Juntos in Philadelphia, and how to conduct strategic case-based campaigns that highlight injustices in the immigration system. This training will be interactive, allowing participants to practice new skills and plan how to begin a project in their local community. The training will be a full two days. Participants are expected to attend both days.

Skills and topics to be covered include:

How to conduct door-to-door conversations with community members

Recruiting allies to support immigrant-led campaigns

Understanding the immigration system and the detention and deportation process

NOTE: All PA is Ready! grantees participating in the Enforcement Resistance Initiative are required to send at least one staff (or equivalent) and 2-3 community leaders or volunteers to one of the three Enforcement Resistance trainings being offered.

Governor Tom Wolf and the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services have the power to issue an Emergency Removal Order on the Berks County Detention Center, an action that would ensure the facility can no longer be used as a prison. It is not only their moral obligation to keep families out of jail but their legal responsibility. FAMILY DETENTION IS ILLEGAL. More information on Facebook.

Pennsylvania is home to one of three family detention centers in the country – and the only publicly owned one. Families have reported verbal abuse, workers’ rights abuses, medical neglect and in its first year of operation a mother was raped in front of other families.

Governor Wolf has known for two years that his administration could remove families from the abuse and neglect that they have been enduring in the Berks County Family Detention Center. The Governor’s administration has done the bare minimum to right the immoral and illegal detention of immigrant families. Families continue to be abused under the state’s watch.

June’s vigil will be led by Shut Down Berks Interfaith Witness with the ANNA Crusis Choir. Please join us as we continue to lift our voices for the individuals who continue to be detained in the Berks County Detention Center. RSVP on Facebook.

We are hosting 3 webinars in English & 1 in Spanish (pick when you are free) to go over what to expect for this years convening, fundraising plan and registration information including how to fill out forms and how to prepare. We are also excited to hear from you, what do you want from this year’s convening. All interested in attending should join.

Are you an immigrant to the United States? Would you like to learn about resources available to you? Learn about citizenship,employment, housing, health, English classes, starting a business, and more! Free. No Registration Required.

Learn how legal and community pressure strategies can elevate a removal case into a deportation defense campaign, including best practices and ethical considerations for collaborating with community partners. Sponsored by the Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition and PA is Ready! All lawyers and community members are invited to participate, but PA is Ready! Strategic Legal Partners are required to attend.

Join us via webinar to get prepared for your lobby visit to Governor’s Wolf office. He needs to hear from constituents that 2018 is the year he issues an Emergency Removal Order to ensure no new families are brought to the Berks County Detention Center.

This training will review the history of the center, how to lobby and the research that proves that the state of Pennsylvania can in fact issue an Emergency Removal Order.

We are hosting 3 webinars in English & 1 in Spanish (pick when you are free) to go over what to expect for this years convening, fundraising plan and registration information including how to fill out forms and how to prepare. We are also excited to hear from you, what do you want from this year’s convening. All interested in attending should join.

In response to increased immigration enforcement in Pennsylvania, PICC will be hosting a series of trainings on how to implement a coordinated community-based response to create safer communities and stop unjust deportations and detentions.

Participants will learn about the “Community Resistance Zone” model, as implemented by Juntos in Philadelphia, and how to conduct strategic case-based campaigns that highlight injustices in the immigration system. This training will be interactive, allowing participants to practice new skills and plan how to begin a project in their local community. The training will be a full two days. Participants are expected to attend both days.

Skills and topics to be covered include:

How to conduct door-to-door conversations with community members

Recruiting allies to support immigrant-led campaigns

Understanding the immigration system and the detention and deportation process

NOTE: All PA is Ready! grantees participating in the Enforcement Resistance Initiative are required to send at least one staff (or equivalent) and 2-3 community leaders or volunteers to one of the three Enforcement Resistance trainings being offered

Join activists from around the state who are working to stop all anti-immigrant legislation in PA and to pass pro-immigrant policies at the municipal and state levels. Every call we will have an in-depth presentation on a different topic or campaign. Please register to receive the information to join the calls. Register Today!

We are hosting 3 webinars in English & 1 in Spanish (pick when you are free) to go over what to expect for this years convening, fundraising plan and registration information including how to fill out forms and how to prepare. We are also excited to hear from you, what do you want from this year’s convening. All interested in attending should join.

All attendees will help with fundraising- PICC will provide and assist with a fundraising plan!

Registration Opens: June 1, 2018

Registration will close on July 28, 2018

CALLING PAST CONVENING ATTENDEES:Join our convening organizing team! Your role will be to help us figure out content for this event, activities, possible trainers/speakers, fundraising and help with outreach to your friends.

Commitment: 5 1hr planning calls in the evenings starting June- July.

Visit our website for more information regarding convening and registration.

Join us via webinar to get prepared for your lobby visit to Governor’s Wolf office. He needs to hear from constituents that 2018 is the year he issues an Emergency Removal Order to ensure no new families are brought to the Berks County Detention Center.

This training will review the history of the center, how to lobby and the research that proves that the state of Pennsylvania can in fact issue an Emergency Removal Order.

This May Day, we come together to honor and celebrate immigrants and workers who are often overlooked and undervalued. We especially want to uplift and center domestic workers, child care workers, sex workers, construction workers, restaurant workers, refugee workers and all other workers whose survival work remains unrecognized. This Mayday, we say: there is no small work — all workers are valuable!